Argos launches first online brochure

Catalogue king Argos launches its first ever digital gift guide today as the chain takes another step towards a paperless revolution.

The interactive online brochure offers shoppers themes to find the perfect present for loved ones from gifts for people you don’t know and batteries not included to a section called Toys Parents Won’t Understand.

Instead of searching by products, the colourful, online guide also looks for personalities like Couch Potato, Wannabe James Bond and Gifts for People with Bad Hair.

While paper gift guides will still be available to pick up in stores, they have been revamped for the digital era with toys coming to life using an augmented reality app.

The free Blipper app for smartphones means children can watch a fairy fly off the page or a Lego model spring to action.

Bertrand Bodson, digital director at Argos, said: “Our digital gift guide marks a significant departure from the traditional Argos catalogue and offers online shoppers the opportunity to explore and discover a huge range of gifts in a whole new way that’s never been done before.

“As we all know Christmas can be an expensive time of year so we’ve made sure the guide is automatically updated with our latest offers. No matter whether you are shopping in store or online, you can be safe in the knowledge that you are getting the best price.”

It follows an announcement last week that the high street chain is scrapping its laminated catalogue pages in some stores and replacing them with tablets.

Seven stores will axe the traditional blue Argos pen and paper slips by Christmas, for orders tapped out on touch screens as part of a £300 million overhaul of the business.

The digital makeover is part of the chain’s plan to attract well-heeled online customers and Argos boss Terry Duddy said: “We think there’s an opportunity for consumers from upper demographics to shop with us a bit more often.”

Source : Ruki Sayid - The Mirror
www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/catalogue-king-argos-launches-first-ever-2667128